Five Arrested at Oceanside DUI Checkpoint

Five people were arrested and charged with suspicion of drunken driving and other offenses at an Oceanside checkpoint between 9:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

One of the arrested drivers drove into a parked car while trying to avoid the checkpoint and was apprehended after she ran from her car, Oceanside police said. Two of her passengers also ran but were not located.

A total of 22 citations were issued at the checkpoint, on Oceanside Boulevard at Vine Street.

Eleven drivers were cited for being unlicensed, and four were cited for driving with suspended licenses.

Research shows drunken driving checkpoints reduce the number of persons killed in injured in alcohol- or drug-involved crashes by an average of 20 percent with frequent, well-publicized checkpoints, police said.

Officers check drivers through checkpoints for signs of drug or alcohol impairment as well as for proper licensing.

Drivers caught driving impaired are subject to jail, license suspension and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, classes and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

In 2011, nearly 10,000 people nationally, 774 in California, were killed in motor vehicle crashes that involved at least one drunken driver.

-City News Service